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Chapter 253

Naturally, Sperion and his entourage were greeted at the border between the barony of Bern and Galois by Christina, the baroness, and Dran, who held many titles of note including aide, vizier, and Commander of the Raider Knights. With them were also many of the barony’s leaders such as Baran, the commander of the Knights of Bern.

The road would usually be filled with a torrent of pedestrians headed for Bern, but soldiers dispatched from Galois and Bern lined both sides of the road on this occasion to restrict the passage of pedestrians.

Pedestrians craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the crown prince, the most respected man in Arkrest Kingdom next to the king, and Princess Frau who was praised to be the lovely flower of the Kingdom. Soldiers intervened to stop such behavior, but even a parent with a child on their shoulder tried their very best to look at Christina speaking with the crown prince.

There had once been a state-funded development project in the area, but that had been decades ago. This remote region in the extreme north had only recently reinvigorated its development efforts, and their new lord had just graduated from the magic academy. The fact that the crown prince and princess were going out of their way to visit this territory was more than enough proof to impress upon those present the sure and ongoing development of the lands of Bern.

There were certainly many who also assumed that the barony of Bern had been viewed as a threat due to its remarkable progress and the passageway it offered into extraordinary realms such as Ente Forest and Ryuuguu Kingdom. Royalty had thus been presumed to arrive to deliver their words of caution.

As a member of the royal family, Sperion certainly had good reason to be wary of Bern’s excessive development regardless of his personal feelings. It was not entirely out of the question to assume that he had indeed arrived to remonstrate those governing the lands.

Dran and Christina had not the slightest intention of revolting against the royal family, and such rumors were certainly troubling for them. Nonetheless, there was one unchanging fact no matter what others thought.

Bern village was a place that had struggled and forged its name from the rugged soil; a land where hungry magical beats and insects attacked relentlessly; a territory where poisonous snakes and insects could easily kill. The arrival of the crown prince and his entourage was an event of unprecedented scale.

Bern’s residents involved in this matter, with the exception of Dran and his companions, were all aware that they were standing on the threshold of a great historical milestone. They were witnessing an occasion of unbelievable prestige. Their eyes sparkled like gemstones, and their cheeks were flushed like hopeful teens in the face of their dreams.

Right now, these people were just like in the glamorous stories of knights and adventurers that they were told as children. Even though they were far from protagonists, they were definitely one of the characters. It was only natural that their hearts sang with excitement.

Silent delight filled the hearts of Dran and Christina at the sight of such adults.

The crown prince and his party resumed their journey into the territory of Bern, led by the Knights of Bern. As they proceeded, they marveled at the magnificence and imposing nature of the living stone statues Dran had made to adorn the street.

Sperion and his company were welcomed with great enthusiasm as they arrived at Bern village. All the existing residents and many immigrants who had come to settle here had gathered along the road leading to Christina’s family residence and at the south gate to cheer for this procession.

The innocent hospitality of the residents, who were unaware of the speculated agenda of this inspection, dispelled the tension eating at the hearts of Sperion and Frau and offered them comfort.

During this one-week inspection tour, Sperion and Frau were scheduled to visit the commercial and research areas in Bern village, as well as meet with the envoys of various races from Ente forest and Mores mountains.

However, consideration was taken as to the fatigue of Sperion and his party after the journey. After they arrived at Christina’s residence, the necessary security measures were checked once more before the guests were left to rest first.

The dinner banquet was served with some of the barony’s unique and peculiarly flavored dishes. These were recipes tasted by Lenia and her companions during their training camp in the village,  and the hospitality of the first day ended with a bath for the guests. This proceeded under Dran’s supervision, and it was a service offered with utter disregard for the barony’s budget while providing the ultimate comfort available for their users.

Once the warm welcome had come to an end, it was finally time for discussions regarding the true purpose of Sperion’s visit to Bern village under the guise of an inspection tour.

Seven people—Sperion, Frau, Amria, Yachiyo, Fuuko, Shald, and Radia—were shown into Christina’s office. Without a doubt, guards from Bern and the crown prince’s entourage were situated outside the office and around the mansion’s perimeter, keeping a close eye on any potential intruders.

The personnel from Bern included the usual five who knew Amria, namely Christina, Dran, Selina, Diadora, and Dramina. Lynette, Gundeus, and Kyrlinne were also present to wait on the party.

This gathering was akin to a confidential meeting, where no information could be leaked. Despite the situation, Yachiyo and Fuuko were behaving no different than usual, with wide smiles on their faces as they entered the room. The moment they walked in, their voices could be heard.

「Oh boy, all these delicacies were a real treat, and my belly’s bursting with food! Thank you for the meal!」

「The bath after that was also fabulous. Thanks to that, the fur from the tips of our ears all the way to the tip of our tails is glistening. We even smell amazing, and Hachi and I are both super duper pleased!」

Christina was tense from the upcoming solemn discussion, but the smiles on the faces of the affectionate dog and fox helped her relax a little. Her stiff shoulders and rigid expression loosened from seeing the two.

「All our hard work was certainly worthwhile if you, our honored guests, feel this way. Prince Sperion, Princess Frau, please do not hesitate to let me know if anything is lacking. As your vassals, we will do our very best.」

Christina was not the only one taken aback by the behavior of Yachiyo and Fuuko. Even Sperion and Frau seemed rather dumbfounded, their eyes widening in surprise. This expression was swiftly buried once Christina called out to them, and a composed reply was returned to her.

「No, we have no complaints about the enthusiastic welcome we have received since we arrived here. It’s enough to remind Frau and me once again that we should make sure not to behave in a manner that would disappoint the people of this territory.」

「Your Highnesses’ visit is a phenomenal event for the pioneers who built up Bern with my grandfather, hence their brimming enthusiasm. Well, please have a seat here. This conversation is likely to take up some time, so how about starting with a cup of tea? Although it’s summer, the nights can get chilly here. I’m sure you don’t wish for your bodies to suffer the cold after your hot bath.」

Christina urged Sperion and Frau to take a seat before sitting down in from of them with Dran. The three maids started preparing tea at once.

Dramina, who acted as Dran’s secretary, sat down next to him. Amria sat between Speion and Frau, with Sperion on her right and Frau on her left. Shald, Radia, Yachiyo, and Fuuko stood behind them as guards.

Soon after, an herb tea from Ente forest was prepared by Lynette, Gundeus, and Kyrlinne. Cups of tea lined up before everyone seated on the couches, and Amria who had been stiff from her nerves let out a sigh of relief at the fragrance of the herb tea.

Amria’s relaxed appearance drew smiles from Sperion and Frau as they sipped from the white porcelain teacups prepared for them. Furthermore, there were furnishings in the office that were more exquisite than the items in the office of their father, the king. These were things that left the two royalty wondering about the great lengths taken to acquire them, and they marveled at how exceptional this place was.

「I’m looking forward to the inspection tour tomorrow. I’ve visited many places locally and beyond, but I doubt I’ve been to anywhere as stirring as Bern.」

「He’s right. News about Bern has also been going around the royal palace. There are many goods that have spread throughout the country due to Bern’s prosperity, and it’s widely rumored that Bern’s influence is only growing by the day.」

Frau and Sperion related the rumors and revaluations of Bern in the royal palace one after another. Such information only caused Christina and her companions to cringe with embarrassment.

Christina had never been used to receiving praises from others, and she writhed in the abashment overwhelming her. On the other hand, Gundeus, with her evergrowing admiration for Christina, was doing her utmost best to prevent any strange murmurs from leaving her lips. If she had been given freedom to act as she pleased, she would have started hollering, “Master Christina is so cute!”